Thoden, 27, a Patchogue resident, is now a law secretary to State Supreme Court Justice Leonard Austin. She will face Republican Dean Murray, who lost a close race against Legis. Jack Eddington in November.

Republicans believe Murray has the edge because he got more than 5,000 votes in his losing bid, but Democrats say that Thoden will have the formidable backing the well-heeled Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee, which specializes in targeting get-out-the-vote efforts in small-turnout special elections like the contest scheduled for Feb. 9. The vacancy occurred because Eddington was elected Brookhaven town clerk.

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